


H 



HV TIIF, 



CITY COiCIL OF SALT LAKE CITT 



OF 



RUMORS AFFECTING THE PHAGE, 

REPUTATION and \\'ELFARE of the GITY 

VXD ITS INHABITANTS. 



S, J LT L. I KE CJT ) ; DJiCEMBEl! S, JSSo. 



A 






INVESTIGATION 



BY THE 



CITY COUNCIL OF SALT LAKE CITT. 



City Hall, Salt Lake City, 

Saturday, Dec. 5th, 1885. 
The City Council met in special session at three o'clock 
p. m., pursuant to call of the Mayor. Roll called. 

Present — Mayor Sharp; Aldermen Speirs, Waddell, Dean, 
Patrick, Pyper; Councilors Stringfellow, Clark, Webber, Macfiirlane, 
Wells; Attomey Richards. 

Absent — Councilors Pettit, Davis, Jennings, Grant. 

OBJECT OF MEETING. 



The Mayor stated that the object of calling a special session 
was to consider the advisability of the Council's investigating cer- 
tain rumors that were in circulation affecting the peace and good 
order of the city and its inhabitants, and which he was informed had 
been telegraphed to the national authorities in Washington, with a 
view to securing military interference with the local government. 

After various inquiries by the members relative to the nature 
of the rumors and the impression they had created abroad, and a 
full and free discussion of the injurious effects likely to result 
to the community in case they were not thoroughly investi- 
gated and the exact truth ascertained and made known, on 
motion of Alderman Waddell, it was decided that an official 
investigation of the many current rumors affecting the general 
welfare of the people of the city be made by the Council, commencing 



Monday, December yth, at ten o'clock a. m. ,' and that invitations 
be issued to persons who, there was reason to suppose, had any 
information concerning the rumors, to be present and make state- 
ments. 

On motion of Alderman Patrick, the Recorder was instructed 
to address communications to the following-named gentlemen inviting, 
them to be present at the investigation : His Excellency, Eli H. 
Murray, Governor of Utah; Hon. Arthur L. Thomas, Secretary; Major- 
General Alexander McD. McCook, commanding Fort Douglas: 
Lieutenant S. W. Groesbeck, Post Adjutant; Hon. C. S. Varian, 
Assistant U. S. Attorney; Hon. E. A. Ireland, U. S. Marshal: 
Hon. William Jennings, Hon. John Sharp, Hon. Feramorz Little, 
Hon. John Q. Cannon, P. L. Williams, Esq., J. L. Rawlins, Esq.; 
S. A. Merritt, Esq. 

On motion of Councilor Clark, the special session adjourned 
to Monday, December 7th, at ten o'clock a. m. 



City Hall, Salt Lake City, 

Monday, Dec. 7th, 1885. 

The City Council met pursuant to adjournment in special ses- 
sion. 

Roll called. Present — Mayor Sharp; Aldermen Speirs, Wad- 
dell, Dean, Patrick, Pyper; Councilors Stringfellow, Clark, Web- 
ber, Pettit, Macfarlane, Wells, Grant; Attorney Richards. Absent — 
Councilors Davis and Jennings. 

The minutes of the special session of December 5th, were 
read and approved. 

The following report was submitted: 

Salt Lake City, Dec. 7th, 1885. 

Tke Hon. the Mayor and City Council: 

Gentlemen — I have the honor to report to you that in com- 
pliance with your instructions of the 5th inst. , I have forwarded to 
the gentlemen named by you each a communication, of which the 
subjoined is a copy: 

''Sir — At a special session of the City Council of Salt Lake 
City, held Saturday, December 5th, it was decided that an official in- 
vestigation of the rumors in circulation at the present time affecting 
the peace and welfare of the city and its inhabitants be had, com- 



mencin^ Monday, December ytli, at lo a m. I am directed to re- 
:.spectfiiily invite yon to attend said investi^^ation, and to furnish the 
Council any information concernitig the matter that yon may be in 
jiossession of " 

Very respectfully, 

Heber M. Wells, 

Recorder. 

On motion of Councilor Stringfellow, the Recorder's report 
was accepted and approved. 



The following communications were read : 

Fort Dou(;las, Dec. 6th, 1885. 

Heber M. Wells, City Recorder, Salt Lake City, Utah: 

Sir — Referring- to your communication of yesterday, request- 
ing my presence at an official investigation ordered by the City Coun- 
cil concerning the origin of certain rumors "affecting the peace and 
welfare of the city," I have the honor, in reply, to say that I can only 
communicate facts coming to my knowledge in my ofificial capacity to 
and through my superior officer. 

As to personal knowledge of said rumors and their origin, I 
know nothing which to me seems of material value, or could aid the 
Council in its work. 

While apj)reciating the courtesy exten(?led, I beg you will con- 
sider that in declining to appear as requested, I am acting within the 
customary and legal restraints of my office. 
Very respectfully, 

Your obedient servant, 

S. W. Groesbeck, 
First Lieut., Adjt. Si.xth Infontry and Post. 



Office U. S. Attorney, 

Salt Lake City, Dec. 7th, 1885. 

Heber M. Wells, Esq. , City Recorder, Salt Lake City: 

Sir — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt, late yester- 
day afternoon, of your communication of Saturday's date, wherein 
you inform me that the City Council had decided "that an official in- 
vestigation of the rumors in circulation at the jjresent time, aftecting the 
]>eaceand welfare of the city and its inhabitants" be had, commencing 
Monday, December 7th, at 10 o'clock a. m., and that you were di- 
rected to request my attendance upon the occasion of said investi- 
gation, and that I furnish the Council any information I possess con- 
cerning the matter. 



In reply thereto I have to request that you be pleased t© 
communicate to the Honorable the City Council my respectful 
acknowledgment of the Council's invitation. I regret to say that 
the obligations of office will prevent me from disclosing at the pres- 
ent time any information possessed by the District Attorney relative 
to the subject mentioned. Be also pleased to convey to the Council 
my desire to be advised of any facts which can aid the office in its era- 
deavors to secure the public tranquillity and enforce the laws. 
Very respectfully, 

C. S. Varian, 

Asst. U. S. Attorney. 



Territory of Utah, 

Executive Office, 

Salt Lake City, 

December 6th, 1885. 
Sir — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your 
communication, in which you state that "at a special meeting of the 
City Council of Salt Lake," held last night, "it was decided that an 
official investigation of the rumors in circulation at the present time 
affecting the peace and welfare of the city^ etc., be had," and inviting 
me to attend, and to furnish the Council any information concerning 
the matter that I may be in possession of I have to state that I 
have for several days been engaged in investigating and communicating 
for the information of the President the condition of affairs pertain- 
ing to the peace and -A^elfare of the people of this city in common 
with other parts of the Territory, and to say that I am pleased to 
know that the Council of this city propose to investigate the matter, 
I beg that you will say to the Council that I will be gratified to re- 
ceive from that body any facts bearing on the subject that may be of 
service to the President, the Governor, or the District Attorney, who 
is charged with the duty of the prosecution of offenses against the 
laws of the United States and, of Utah, and that it will be my pleasure 
at all times to support the Mayor in his efforts to preserve the 
peace and in upholding the law. 

Respectfully, 

Eli H. Murray, 

Governor, 
To Heber M. Welh, Esq. , City Recorder. 



Utah Territory, 

Secretary's Office, 

Salt Lake City, Dec. 7th 1885. 
Sir — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your 
communication, dated Dec. 5th, 1885, inviting me, on behalf of the 
City Council, to be present at a special meeting of that body, called 



to investigate "the rumoi-s in circulation at the present time aftecting 
the peace and welfare of the city and its inhabitants." and to return 
my thanks for the same. 

Please say to the gentlemen of the Council that I have no 
information bearing upon the subject mentioned, other than that 
which is now in possession of the Governor. 
I am, sir, 

Very respectfully, 

Arthur L. Thomas, 

Secretary of Utah Territory. 
Heber M. Wells^ Esq., City Recorder. 



On motion of C(nuicil(M- Wells, the communications were 
ordered to be filed. 

On motion of Councilor Clark, it was decided to proceed 
with the investigation, by requesting those present having any infor- 
mation on the subject to make their statements and be interrogated, 
beginning with his Honor the Mayor. 

The Mayor thereupon called Alderman Patrick to the chair, 
and made the following statement: 

STATEMENT OF MAYOR SHARP. 



Mr. Chairman — I wish to lay before the Council, officially, all 
the information that is in my possession in relation to certain rumors 
that have been circulated affecting the welfare of the citizens of Salt 
Lake City. During the afternoon of Monday last, a week ago, a rumor 
reached me that there was great excitement in the city over certain 
events that had transpired, or were transpiring then. The first 
rumor that reached me was that it had been reported to the U. S. 
District Attorney and others that before daylight last Monday morn- 
ing bodies of armed men, supposed to be Mormons, had been seen 
coming into Salt Lake City, one troop passing up West Temple 
Street, numbering nine, I believe, reported to be on horseback, and 
going in the neighborhood of the Temple block, or thereabouts. 
The party who told me of this first was Mr. P. L. Williams, who 
stated that he had just heard it. I thanked him for the information, 
and told him I would investigate the matter and set the City Marshal 
on the track of the rumor, and with the police force try to find out if 
there was any truth in the report. I told him I did not believe that 
parties of armed men could come into this city on Sunday night, or 
any other night, without the knowledge of the ofticcrs of the city. 
Another rumor reached me to the effect that armed men lined the 
road to the penitentiary for the purpose of taking Collin from the 



custody of the U. S. Marshal. Other rumors were in circulation 
tliat I could not trace up, and I came down to the Hall here and set 
the Marshal on the track of these rumors, and told him to report 
to me as early as possible. He looked the matter up that afternoon 
and evenint>-,'and reported to me on Tuesday morning the result of 
his investig-ation, which he will also lay before the Council. 1 thought 
it advisable on Tuesday morning, on consultation with City Attorney 
Richards, to visit His Excellency the Governor in relation to these 
rumors. It was about ii o'clock on Tuesday when the City Attor- 
ney and myself visited the Governor. We had about one hour's 
conversation with him, and told him what we had heard in relation to 
this rumor of armed men, and what the City Marshal had ascertained 
in investigating the matter. I told the Governor that we had found 
out in our investigation that there was not a shadow of truth in the 
report that armed men had come into the city; that there was not 
a shadow of truth in the report that armed men lined the way to the 
penitentiary. There was no truth in the report that the Mormons, 
or any other citizens of .Salt Lake City, contemplated, in any 
manner, so far as we could find out, to attempt to take Deputy 
Marshal Collin from the possession of the U. S. Marshal. I told the 
Governor there was no cause for removing Deputy Marshal Collin 
from the penitentiary to the military post. Furthermore, I told the 
Governor that, so far as the citv government were concerned, we 
found no fault with the action of Marshal Ireland in relation to 
holding the ])risoner; but the only question that arose in our minds 
was whether Deputy Marshal Collin, who is supposed to have done 
he shooting on the previous Saturday night, was really in the cus- 
tody of the officers of the law, and not as to the class of officers that 
had him in charge; and we did not now contemplate the possession 
of the prisoner. I also stated that so far as my experience in investi- 
gating this matter, and the facts I had gleaned were concerned, that 
there was no apprehension on the part of the people of this city of 
any kind of uprising whatever; that there was no danger of any 
interference with any process of law of any court of the United States 
in the Territory, from the local government of the city, or from 
anybody else, and that the prisoner was perfectly safe at the Post, 
and nobody proposed to interfere with him; that he was equally as 
safe at the penitentiary, and would have been equally as safe in the 
city jail, had he been placed there. 

After going all over this ground, the Governor, in expressing 
his views on the situation, said in return that he now believed these 
rumors without foundation in fact, and that the public mind was un- 
necessarily e.xcited on the question; that there was no danger. He 
said that he of course was on the side of peace, as we all were on the 
side of peace; that he would use his best offices in allaying any ex- 
citement tliat might have grown out of the affair of the Saturday 
night previous. I concluded this excitement was than alllayed and 
that there would be nothing further in the matter, but last Friday 



afternoon. General McCook came down specially to see the Mayor 
to inquire into the situation. We talked the situation over then as 
we had talked it over with the Governor. In addition to 'the rumor 
of armed men, he had another charge. He said that information 
had come to him direct that arms were stored by the Mormon peo- 
ple in the loft of the Tithing Office, and they were to arm the peojjle 
and |)repare them for some sort of uprising that might hai)j)en. I 
told him that I tliought the excitement was allayed, l)ut I would with 
pleasure go with him to the Tithing Office immediately and ascertain 
if Bishop Preston was at home and investigate this rumor. I ac- 
companied (General McCook to the Tithing Office, but Bishop Pres- 
ton was not there. I told the Cieneral that I would ascertain if he 
would be home on Saturday, and if so, I would telephone him at 
the Post, and he could come down, and we would make an examina- 
tion. I learned on Saturday morning that Bishop Preston would not be 
in the city for two or three days. I then asked Attorney Richards to 
see Mr. John O. Cannon, who, in the absence of Bishop Preston, had 
charge of the Tithing Office, and request him to allow us to proceed 
through and examine the premi.ses and ascertain if there was any 
foundation in fact in relation to the rumor. Mr. Richards ini'ormed 
me that he went to see Mr. Cannon immediately, and Mr. Cannon 
said he would with pleasure show the Mayor and General or any 
other person through the building. I then telephoned General 
McCook. He came down, and with liis Adjutant we pro- 
ceeded, and Mr. Cannon kindly showed us through the building 
into the mysterious loft where those arms were supposed to be stored. 
In our examination we fount! nothing whatever except some twenty or 
thirty, or pcrhajjs forty, old muskets that stood up against the wall, 
without locks, flints (they were old flint-lock guns) or ramrods, \he 
accumulation of Mormon emigrants or the Mormon Batallion. These 
were the only arms that could be found stored at the Tithing Office. 
I assured General McCook that so far as I could ascertain, there was 
no feeling of unrest among the people or any danger whatever of an 
uprising of any kind, and I said that I had concluded all excitement 
had (Hed out; but in view of these later rumors I thought an official 
investigation would be advisable. On Saturday, about three o'clock, 
I called the Council together, and we talked the matter over, and 
this meeting is the result. 

Question by Councilor Stringfellow: Did the Govei'nor, or 
any other officers or persons; name the parties th.it reported these 
rumors? 

A. No, sir. 

Q. Did you ask him the question? 

A. Well, I cannot recollect whether I did or not. However, 
the Governor gave us the name of the District Attorney. 

O. You stated that Mr. P. L. Williams told you that he had 
heard of these armed men: did he tell you who told him? 

A. He stated, if I mistake not, that Mr. J. L. Rawlins had 



either heard of or reen something of this body of men coming into 
town. Mr. Rawlins was therefore invited to attend this meeting. 

By Mr. Richards: I see that Mr. Rawlins is present, and as 
his time may be Hmited, I would suggest that he be invited to 
make a statement at once. 



STATEMENT OF J. L. RAWLINS, ESQ. 



I recollect that I stated that I had heard somebody say they 
had heard of this party of men coming to town on Sunday night or 
Monday morning. I was not out on Sunday night making an inspection 
of the city; and I saw no men coming into town, but I simply heard 
a rumor to that effect, which I probably mentioned to Mr. Williams. 
By the Mayor: Have you any information in relation to this 
rumor you wish to give to the Council? 

A. I have no information at all on the subject. I considered it a 
mere rumor. I do not know how the rumor originated, and have 
no information in regard to it whatever. 

By Councilor Grant: Mr. Rawlins, can you give us the names 
of the parties who told you, so that we can trace it back? 

A. I am not entirely certain; I heard of armed men coming 
down West Temple Street; someone mentioned it to me in the court 
room. I am not entirely certain, but it may have been Commissioner 
McKay. It was someone in the court room. 

O. Did the party who told you say that he had seen them? 
• A. No, hesaid he had heard of it. 



STATEMENT OF CITY ATTORNEY RICHARDS. 



Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Council — I do not think it 
will be necessary for me to go over the ground that has been covered 
by the Mayor. I can corroborate the statements that he has made, 
so far as he has referred to me as having been associated with him in 
these matters. • 

Last Monday afternoon I was informed bv the Mayor of the 
rumor as to armed men coming into town, and I took measures 
to obtain information from the east as to what had been communicated 
there. I found that it had been telegraphed, and published by the 
eastern press that parties of armed men were lining the roads from 
the city to the penitentiary, and that great fears were entertained that 
the man Collin, who had shot McMurrin on Saturday night, would 
be Ivnched, and that he had been taken to Fort Douglas for pro- 
tection. I have not the dispatch with me now, but I think it went to 



the extent of intimating' that the hves and property of non-Mormons 
were in jeopardy. Soon after the rumor reached the Mayor of l^oches 
of armed men coming^ into the city in the night, he communi- 
cated the same to me, and said he had just heard it. In my jiresence 
he called the City Marshal's attention to it, and the Marshal pro- 
ceeded at once to investigate the rumor, and he will state the 
result. We communicated to the City Marshal all that we had 
heard concerning the rumors, and the information I had received 
from the east, and he was requested by the Mayor to make an in- 
vestigation, and find out all that he could in relation to the matter. 
On Tuesday morning we were informed by the Marshal that 
there were no grounds for the rumors; that he had followed them 
up as far as possible, but could find no one who had seen any 
armed men coming into the city. We then came to the conclusion, as 
the Mayor has said, that the proper thing for us to do was to go 
and see the Governor of the Territory, and communicate to him 
these facts. We did so, and had a very long and ajjparently satis- 
factory interview with the Ciovernor. He did not attempt to 
conceal from us the fact that there was considerable agitation on 
the streets, especially among non-Mormons. The Mayor told 
him what steps had been taken to ascertain the correctness of the 
rumors. It finally resulted in the Governor's declaring, as has been 
stated here, that he thought the rumors were entirely without foun- 
dation. He considered there was no necessity for any interference; 
he had done what he had in reference to getting the military to 
take charge of Collin in the interest of good government, and 
to prevent any possible occasion for a collision. He thought every- 
thing was all right, and that there was no occasion for alarm; such 
was the understanding we had when we left him. He said the news- 
papers were a little too sensational, and he thought it would be a good 
idea for us to use anv influence we might have in trying to keep 
them from inflaming the public mind, which we agreed to do, and 
called his attention to the fact that sensational stories were not con- 
fined to Mormon newspapers. He assented to the truth of this state- 
ment, and promised to exercise his influence on the other side to 
prevent sensational reports. 

In regard to the matter of examining the Tithing Office. 
On Saturday morning, the Mayor came to me about lo o'clock and 
told me that General McCook had reported to him that a rumor had 
reached P'ort Douglas about arms being stored in the Tithing Olifice. 
He asked me to go and see whoever had charge of the Tithing Officr 
in the absence of Bishop Preston, and tell him that General McCook 
would like to go through and examine the building. I went and 
found Mr. John Q. Cannon, and requested him to allow the examina- 
tion to be made. He said he would like very much to show the 
General the arms, and asked if I would like to go through the 
building then iuid see the "armory?" I wished to seethe place before 
ftiere was time to make any change whatever, so he took 



lO 

me up stairs, and exhibited just what the Mayor has stated. 
There was no gun there, I suppose, that under any circumstance 
could be fired off without it had first received very extensive re- 
pairs. I reported the matter to the Mayor, and he sent for General 
McCook to come down and make the examination. We found 
everything in exactly the same condition as when I saw it first, 
and the General became satisfied there was no foundation for the 
rumor, I remarked that no man would be foolhardy enough to at- 
tempt to fire off any of the arms there. The General replied that 
the only danger would be to the man who stood at the breech. 
It was a matter of considerable amusement. 

I would also state, in reference to the interview with the 
Governor, that he intimated, among other things, that there were 
rumors afloat that prominent members of the Mormon Church were 
encouraging organizations of the people and preparations for an 
outbreak, or something of that sort. We told him we had already 
had an intimation of such a rumor, and that we had seen some of the 
prominent members of the Mormon Church, and, so far as we could 
ascertain, there was no truth in the report; that everyone of the 
Mormon officials and others whom we had seen, disclaimed any 
knowledge of such a condition of affairs, and gave it as their 
opinion, without any qualification, that there was no foundation 
in fact for any such rumor. We talked the matter all over 
fully with the Governor, and this, with what the Mayor reported, is 
the substance of our interview. I have never seen any one that 
could say he knew these things to be so, but in every instance some- 
one had been told that somebodyelse had heard something of that 
sort. 

By Alderman Waddell: Did His Excellency tell you of a 
rumor of armed men gathering and drilling somewhere near the 
City? 

A. Yes, sir; he said, if I remember correctly, that in some 
setdement in this County, in the night time, I think, men had 
gathered together at the tolling of a bell. I think he said armed 
men. We tried to find out what settlement it was reported to 
have occurred in, but could not. He said it was given to him 
in confidence. At any rate, we could get no information on 
that point. 

I would also say, that we tried to find out the sources ol 
these rumors from the Governor, but in some instances he was reti- 
cent, and withheld the information as a matter of confidence; in other 
instances he referred us to Mr. Varian for information as to some 
matters which the City Marshal will speak about. In every instance 
where the names of informants were given, they have been seen. 
Believing the little excitement which had existed was allayed, we 
could not well urge the Governor to disclose the names of his infor- 
mants. We were not aware at that time that any official action had 
been taken by the Govenor; it was a public rumor, and that was all 



ZI 

he knew of it; and if we could keep the newspapers from inflaming 
the public mind, we presumed that everything would remain quiet. 

By Councilor Strini);fellow: Did he say that he thought there 
was no foundation for those rumors? 

A. Yes, sir; I so understood him. 

By Councilor Clark: Did you ascertain from your conversa- 
tion with the Governor who telegraphetl these things to Washington 
when it was found there was no truth in them? 

A. No, sir; we were given to understand that no official tel- 
egrams were being sent. 

By Councilor Webber: He intimated that he was going to al- 
lay any friction that might exist, did he not? 

A. Yes, sir; and claimed that what he had done was to 
prevent an outbreak that was liable to ha|)pen in this city. 

By Alderman Waddell: Have you heard of a rumor of the 
quartering of a company of troops in the centre of the city? (One 
of the members replied that the troops were already here.) 

Q. Have you any information, official or otherwise, that 
would lead you to believe that such a course is necessary? 

A. No, sir; I do not believe that such a thing is necessary. 
I am satisfied there is no necessity existing for it. There is no reason 
whatever for military interference, or the quartering of troops in 
Salt Lake City. I say this after having spent a whole week in inves- 
tigating these matters. Although everything seemed quiet, we still 
kept up our investigation, and have found there was no foundation in 
fact for the rumors. 



STATEMENT OF BISHOP CANNON. 



Mr. Chainnan and Gentlevicn of the Council — Respecting this 
rumor that nrms were stored at the Tithing Office, I can only say in 
substance what has been said by the Mayor and City Attorney 
Richards, that there is no truth in the matter further than that there 
are some twenty or thirty, or even forty old muskets. The Adjutant 
seemed to have information, definite information, as to the number of 
arms that were stored in that building, and he referred to it once or 
twice in our conversation when we showed him through the building. 
We did not make any inspection of the cellars, neither did he 
want to, though I invited him and the General. I also told them 
we had an old slaughter house in the yard that was not used, 
which would be naturally a pretty good place to store arms, and 
where previously these old muskets were stored. They did not care 
to investigate any further, and left. As to the rumor that there are 
arms stored there, I am perfectly free to declare any such rumor false. I 
do not believe, as the City Attorney has said, that there is a single 
weapon in the place, except jierhaps a shot gun belonging to one of 



12 

the clerks, that could be shot off without more dang-er to the man 
who fired it than to the man who stood in front of the weapon. 
There is an old piece of artillery, the famous "Old Sow," standing 
out there in this weather, but I do not believe any man has temerity 
enouo-h to fire Uiat thing off. Further than this, I have no informa- 
tion to communicate. I should not wish to insult the intelligence of 
this Council by referring to that, I consider these as simply street 
rumors, started as all such things will, and when you undertake to 
find out the source that any one of them came from, you have a great 
labor to perform. Any other information I can give I will do so 
cheerfully, and if the Council or anyone else wants to investigate that 
building from cellar to garret, I will take pleasure in showing them 
through. 



STATEMENT OF CITY MARSHAL PHILLIPS. 



Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the CouJicil — Last Monday after- 
noon the Mayor sent for me and told me that it had been reported to 
him that there were bodies of armed men coming into the city, and 
that they had been coming in all the night previous, and asked me 
if I had heard anything of it. I said I had not, and asked him 
where he got his information. He told me that Mr. P. L. Williams 
had informed him in relation to the matter. I called on Mr. Williams, 
and Mr. Williams told me where he got his information. I went to 
see this party but could not find him. Seeing I could not do so, I went 
to the Governor, and asked him if these things had been reported to 
him, and he said they had. I asked him who had reported them to 
him. Well, he told me he could not tell exactly, but some of the 
government officials had reported them to him. I asked if he could 
not name some of them. He said Mr. Varian, Assistant United 
States Attorney, had been talking to him. Mr. Varian and United 
States Marshal Ireland were seen coming down the street at the time, 
and they, the Governor and myself walked over to Mr. Varian' s 
office. I asked Mr. Ireland if he was going to move Collin from the 
penitentiary to Fort Douglas, and he said he had already done so ; 
General McCook had sent a squad of men down with a commissioned 
officer, and they 'had taken Collin from the penitentiary to Fort 
Douglas for safe keeping. I asked him if he thought there was any 
danger in Collin's remaining at the penitentiary. He said, it was re- 
ported that armed men lined the roaci to the penitentiary. I asked 
him if he had been to the penitentiary that day, and he said he had. 
I asked if he saw anything of these armed men along the road, and 
he said he had not. He then said that he thought probably the au- 
thorities here were going to try to take Collin out of the penitentiary. 
I asked him what authorities, and he said the city authorities. 
I asked him why he thought so, after the talk we had together the 



13 

"(.lay before. I will here say that Marshal Ireland and I talked the 
snatter over the day before, on Sunday. The substance of our con- 
versation at that time was as follows: I t(jld Mr. Ireland I was per- 
fectly satisfied that he should hold Collin, ihout^h seeinq^ I had the 
ifirst warrant, I had inclined to the belief at first that I iiad the prior 
right. He then asked me what I intended to do with the warrant for 
Collin's arrest. . I told him I siiould return it "not found." He then 
asked me what the consecjuence of that would be. I replied that the 
warrant would be filed with the affidavit then in possession of the Jus- 
tice of the Peace and that would be the end of the matter. At our 
later conversation — on Monday — the Marshal said to me he did not 
remember that we had any talk in relation to the matter at all. I 
told him I could bring it to his remembrance; I related the conversa- 
tion we hao on Sunday, and he said he then remembered it. I said, 
"Marshal, did I ever deceive you ? Did I ever tell you an untruth ? 
Why did you think that the city authorities were going to take Col- 
lin away from the penitentiary after what I had said in regard to that 
warrant." He replied, " I didn't think about that." I told him I 
didn't know how he could help thinking of it, when it was the last 
thing we talked of The ( iovernor said it had been reported to him 
through the day that people were coming into town on horseback, in 
wagons and on foot, armed. I asked him where he got his informa- 
tion about it. He said, " Mr. Varian can tell you." I turned to 
Mr. Varian and said, "You are just the man I am looking for." 
Mr. Yarian said Mr. Van Horn of the Continental Hotel saw about 
a dozen men coming into town on horseback, armed to the teeth. I 
asked if he knew of anything else. He said he did not, or it did not 
occur to him then. The Governor went on to state that it had been 
reported to him that in the little settlements near the city, at the 
blowing of a horn or the tolling of a bell, the people would rush out, 
armed, with the understanding that when the horn blew or the bell 
tolled they were to make a rush to Salt Lake City to protect the 
Mormons. I asked how he knew this ; and he said he had been 
credibly in formed by a man whose veracity he could not doubt. 
He said it was impossible for him to doubt the man. I asked him 
what his name was, but the Ck)vernor would not* tell me. That was 
all the inft)rmation I could get from him. Then Mr. Varian said to 
me. " You know how it was on Saturday night ; they had a rope 
in front of the City Hall, and would have lynched Collin if he had 
been brought there." I asked, '" Can you tell me of anyone who 
saw the rope?" He replied, "Yes, my hired girl's brother." I 
then left them, as I could not get any more information from them, 
and came down to the Hall, and started the officers down to see Mr. 
Van Horn. The officers came back and reported to me that Mr. 
Van Horn said he had heard the report several times during the day, 
but had seen nothing of the men himself, and knew nothing about 
the matter, and that the report was entirely false. He said he had 
made no such observation at all, and to use his own language, 



14 

"The man who says so is a liar." The next morning I sent an offi- 
cer down to Mr. Varian's house to see his hired girl, to ascertain 
where we could find her brother, if she had one. She said his name 
was Thomas Curtis, and he Hved in the Third Ward. The officer 
came back, and I sent him to the Third Ward, and told him not to 
come back until he found Thomas Curtis, He found Thomas Cur- 
tis ; and the young man said he had not been away from the house 
two blocks Saturday night, and did not know of the shooting until 9 or 
10 o'clock on Sunday morning. So that stopped there. That was all 
the information we could get, I would say that wherever we have 
heard anything of these rumors we have sent officers to investigate 
the matter, and invariably we have found, when we have got to the 
bottom of it, there was nothing in them. I thought, to leave nothing 
unturned, on Tuesday afternoon, I would get in my buggy and go 
down the boulevard, going to the penitentiary, and inquire all along 
the road of all I could see, men, women and boys — for my experience 
is that boys often see things that men don't — to ste if any one had 
seen any men hiding behind the fences, with guns, or hiding behind 
the dried sunflowers along the road, with guns or pistols, but they 
all told me they had not. I came back by the State Road and made 
inquiries along that road, but no one had seen anything of men 
with arms. 

By City Attorney Richards: Did Mr, Ireland say who had 
reported these things to him? 

A. No, sir. 

Q. Did you ask him ? 

A. Yes, sir. 

O. And he declined to tell you ? 

A. Yes, sir. 

O. Who was the party that Mr. Williams referred you to ? 

A. Mr. Rawlins ; he said Mr. Rawlins had first heard of it 
in the " Alta Club Room." 

Q. The Governor refused to give you any information as to 
what settlements these things he told you of occured in ? 

A. Yes, sir, he did. He said he had got it in confidence from 
a man whose reputation for veracity was good. 

By Councilor Clark — Did you find out who it was that tel- 
egraphed these rumors east ? 

A. I asked the Governor if there were any dispatches being 
sent east or west. He said No, not by him. I asked if he knew of 
any. He said he did not. I asked the Governor if he believed 
these rumors. He said he thought there was something in them at 
first, but he did not believe them now. He said that before we parted. 

Q. Do you know of any excitement in the city that would jus- 
itfy any person in telegraphing this east or west ? 

A. No, sir. 

Another thing: We started to find out where these horse- 
men stopped. Horsemen coming into a place like this, we thought 



15 

they would stop and bait. We inquired at all the livery stables 
where they would be likely to stop, but could find nothing of them, 
nor hear anything about them anywhere. I would say another thing 
in relation to the excitement on Saturday night: there was not at 
any time to exceed two hundred men about the Hall. Thinking 
there might possibly be some trouble, I placed some officers in the 
crowd. I asked these officers if they had lieard anyone make threats 
of what tiiey would do, and they told me they had not. I put five 
or six ofticers there, some of them sj^ecial policemen, thinking an 
ounce of prevention was worth a pound of cure. 

By Alderman Waddcll. — Was the crowd greater than usual, 
under such circumstances ? 

A. I have seen ahiiost as many people gather over a little 
fist fight. 



On motion of Councilor Wells, the Recorder was instructed to 
issue special invitations to U. S. Commissioner McKay, Mr. Van 
Horn, Thomas Curtis, and also to Apostles Lorenzo Snow, Franklin 
D. Richards, John Henry Smith, Heber J. Grant and John W. Tay- 
lor to attend the afternoon session. 

On motion of Councilor Grant, a recess was taken till 2 p. m. 



At 2 o'clock p. ni., the session was resumed, Mayor Sharp 

The Recorder reported as follows: "Pursuant to your in- 
structions of this morning, I have addressed communications to the 
gentlemen named, inviting them to be present at this investigation, 
to-day, at 2 p. m," 

On motion of Alderman Patrick, the report was approved. 

The following communication was read: 

United States Marshai.'s Office, 

Utah •Territory, 
Salt Lake City, Dec. 7th, 18S5. 
Hebet M. Wells, Esq., City Recorder: 

Sir — vour communication of the 5th inst. , regarding the pro- 
posed investigation of the City Council of the matters affecting the 
peace and welfare of the City and its inhabitants, is received. I 
would respectfully say to the Honorable City Council, through you, 
that my official duties are such as to to preclude the possibility of my 



i6 

being present. I would state further, that were I present, I could not 
consistently advise you further than what is ah'eady before you 
and perhaps a matter of public notoriety. 
Very Respectfully, 

E. A. Ireland, 

U. S. Marshal!. 

On Motion of Councilor Webber, the communication was 
ordered to be filed. 

A number of the persons to whom special invitations wei'e issued 
being present, the Mayor stated to them the object of this investiga- 
tion, and the reason the invitations had been issued, and requested 
Apostle Lorenzo Snow to make any statement he desired in relation 
to the rumors in question. 

STATEMENT OF APOSTLE LORENZO SNOW. 



I will say to the Hon. Mayor and gentlemen of the City Council, 
I was surprised to receive this invitation to attend the council, which 
I have scarcely had time to read. I hardly know what statement to 
make. I have been absent for from six to nine months. The last 
two or three weeks I have spent at Brigham City. I have heard of 
no dissention or uprising, and know of no revolution or disposition 
to resist the laws of our country. So far as I know, the people seem 
disposed to obey every requisition that is made of them, and have no 
inclination whatever to resist. Perhaps I might speak personally in 
reference to myself, and my feelings and actions in regard to this matter. 
I have been quietly keeping away from what I considered a disposit- 
ion or intention on the part of the federal officers to arrest me, and 
where I expected to receive no justice whatever, I thought it policy 
on my part to keep quietly away, without inconveniencing myself. 
When I was arrested in Brigham City, it was rumored there was some 
little manifestation on the part of some few individuals to take me from 
the marshal, but there was no such intention; it was a perfectly false 
report. At the same time, in connection with this rumor, I instructed 
the people that such demonstrations were not wise. There was no such 
disposition or desire whatever. There has not been any cause in 
Brigham City or other T^lace where I have been, or disposition mani- 
fested in my presence for any such manifestations, and I have heard 
of none. I do not know that I perfectly understand the full intent of 
this inquiry; but perhaps I shall as vou proceed further, and shall be 
pleased to commimicate anything further I can when I understand 
the object. 

The Mayor here explained that rumors were afloat in relation to 
armed men, supposed to be Mormons, having come into town, and it 



17 

was reported a quantity of arms were stored at the Tithing Office in 
case of an uprising. 

Councilor Grant remiirked that it was reported that the leaders 
of the Mormon people were encouraging the organization of parties 
in the settlements, who at the ringing of a l>ell would rush to Salt 
Lake City, to defend the Mormons. 

Aposde Snow: In answer to that, I can say that I know of no 
such organization. There has been no such thing where I have 
been for the past six or nine months, as parties organizing or arming 
themselves, or brushing up their arms. As to l^odies of armed men 
coming into this city I know nothing about that. This is the fu'st I 
have heard of this rumor. 

By City Attorney Richards. I would like to ask, Mr. Snow, 
if you are aware of any member of the Mormon church, officially or 
otherwise, advising or counselling the people to make any such pre- 
parations? 

A. I have never heard of anything of the kind; never heard 
of any such instructions. None of those instructions have ever been 
gi\'en in my presence. 

Q. You have never heard of such instructions? 

A. No, sir. 

Q. So far as you know, nothing of that sort has occurred? 

A. No, sir; so far as I know. 



STATEMENT OF APO.STLE FRANKLIN D. RICHARDS. 



Mr. Mayor and Gentlevien of the Conncil — I will say that I 
have no idea of arms being provided to any person intending to use 
them, even in defense of themselves against illegal processes or for 
any reason whatsoever. I heard a report some {qw days ago, that it 
was thought by some outsiders that there were some arms deposited 
somewhere in or about the Tithing Office or Tithing yard; but I 
heard almost simultaneously with this of a determination on the part 
of public men to look into the matter and see if such was the case. I 
have heard that General McCook and other leading men visited the 
Tithing premises, and satisfied themselves that nothing existed of 
that kind there. As to the rumors, I could not tell you how they 
got afloat; I simply heard them as passing rumors. I saw in the 
newspapers an account of an investigation being had, but I know of 
no individuals having armed themselves, or any apprehension of 
anything of the sort since I arrived in this place. The latest I 
have heard of any excitement of that character was some years ago 



i8 

when acting Governor Black at that time, undertook to prosecute a 
band of boys who were playing with a lot of wooden swords on the 
bench. Perhaps your honor may have heard of it Since that time 1 
have heard of no excitement of a military character. My residence, 
while in the city, is in the .Seventeenth Ward, and in passing to and 
fom my place of business I pass in the vicinity of the Tithing Office, 
yet I have never seen anything that looked suspicious. 

Now, as to my observations and experience in the Territory, 
I will say that for several months past I have gone out almost weekly 
and attended conference in the various counties of Utah Davis, 
Cache, and others. I have attended the conferences of our people, 
which are held quarterly in each Stake, and of course occur very 
frequendy. In all of these meetings I have carefully observed to 
see if there was any instruction given, or any inuendos offered by 
which the sentiment could be conveyed to the people that they were 
to arm or organize themselves, on any account whatever. 
I have never heard anything of the kind. I have often heard 
it urged upon them that they should, in these times when many 
things are conducted by some officials in a careless, overbearing 
manner — I have heard it urged upon the people that they should be 
exceedingly careful to treat public officials properly, and not commit 
any act that could be construed as a violation of law, as an 
interference or hindrance to any proper action of the officers in any 
of their processes. I know, from my own experience, that, instead 
of there being any intention to prepare for an uprising or insurrec- 
tion, or rebellion, there is nothing of the kind contemplated at 
all that has come under my observation. On the contrary, I have 
faith in the people that they are trying to be very careful to avoid 
anything of the kind. 

By Councilor Stringfellow: Being a prominent leader in the 
Church, do you know of any such instructions or advice given to the 
Mormon people, either in the country or in the city, to combine 
or unite together, and procure arms and to be ready for action at a 
moment's notice? 

A. No, sir; I have no such information; I have heard no 
such counsel. I am not aware of any intention of that kind. 

By City Attorney Richards: Do you know of any organiza- 
tions existing of that character among the Mormon people in this 
city or elsewhere? 

A. I do not know of any — anywhere I have traveled. 

By Councilor Stringfellow: Are you aware of any such idea, 
as at the ringing of a bell, or sound of a bugle, the people would rally 
to Salt Lake City — understanding there was an uprising, and the 
people were to gather together to resist the Government? 

A. I have heard of no such thing until this morning. 

By City Attorney Richards: Do you know of any state of 
facts existing that tends in its character to render insecure the lives 



19 

and property of citizens of this city, wliether belongiiig^ to the 
Mormon Church or not? 
A. I do not. 



STATEMENT OF APOSTLE JOHN HENRY SMITH. 



Mr. Chairman and Members of the Council: I will say that 
probably no man in the country knows more in re^^ard to the condi- 
tion of the people in the Territory than I do. I have been in almost 
every county in the Territory within the past {^\< weeks or months, 
and if ever there was a people without excitement and perfectly cool, 
it is the people of Utah. There is absolutely no excitement in the 
country. About nine months ago there was a little buzz of excite- 
ment, and people running" away rather than be arrested, but latterly 
it is perfectly dead, the people are going about their business. I 
have not been to the extreme south; I have been as far as Cedar 
City. This feeling prevails throughout the whole country. The 
courts are carrying on their business, and nobody wants to inter- 
fere with them. As far as arms ai"e concerned, I always go armed. 
I have a pocket knife with four blades, and I always carry it, and 
mean to unless some one takes it away from me. I think I have 
been giving counsel more largely than any other member of the 
Twelve, and I have always talked "peace talk;" and advised the 
people, under every circumstance, to behave themselves. I do 
not think there was any necessity for my giving them this advice, 
for I do not think the Mormon people are at all warlike in their 
inclinations. All, as far ss I am able to judge, is quiet in every 
respect. 

By City Attorney Richards: Do you know of any advice 
having been given by any one else, for the people to organize and 
arm tliemselves? 

A. No, sir; there has not been any such counsel given to the 
people since the days of the Indian raids. At that time, the people 
were counseled to be prepared to defend and protect themselves. 
But from that time to this, there has been no such counsel given. 

Q. Do you know of any disposition on the part of the Mcnmon 
people to provoke any conflict with the general Government, by 
armed resistance; or by force to resist any j^rocess of law, or to in- 
terfere with the lives or liberty or property of non-Mormons? 

A. Not in the least; but on the contray, the feeling of the 
people is to protect every man in his rights and liberties to the utter- 
most, but not to interfere with any person in any sense whatever. 

Q. Do you know of any such organizations as have been 
spoken of here, existing either in this city or elsewhere? 

A. The only ones I know anything about are such as the 
Primary and Mutual Improvement organizations, which are preparing 



20 

our children to become competent citizens. There has been no in- 
struction given anywhere, (andl have been east, west, north, and south) 
looking- to the organization of men with any idea of using force to re- 
sist the Government. 

Q. You state there has been no instructions given to this 
effect, so far as your knowledge extends, but have the people acted 
upon that idea without instructions? 

A. No, sir; I do not think they have. There are no such 
organizations in the country. 

By Councilor Stringfellow : If there were any such things 
existing, you are in a position to know of it? 

A. Yes, sir; I would know of it. But there is no such thing 
where I have been traveling. 

By City Attorney Richards: Your knowledge as to these 
matters also extends to the city? 

A. Yes, sir. 



STATEMENT OF APOSTLE JOHN W. TAYLOR. 



Mr. Chainnayi aiid Gentle7nen of the Council — I can add 
nothing at all to what has been said. I have no information what- 
ever bearing on this matter. I would say that I always keep 
arms in my own house. I always have three or four pieces 
of fire arms, as I take great pleasure in hunting, greater even 
than I do in attending a sitting of the City Council. 



STATEMENT OF HON. A. H. RALEIGH. 



Mr. Chairman and Gentloneyi of the Council — I was surprised 
when I heard of some of these things. I have looked upon the mat- 
ter in this way: That the Latter-day Saints in this spiritual warfare, 
are expecting to conquer by the force of intellect, by the force of in- 
telligence, and not by carnal weapons. I have heard these rumors, 
and*have read the newspapers, but not the slightest ground exists 
for believing these rumors to be true. 



STATEMENT OF BISHOP JOHN SHARP. 



Mr. Mayor and Gentleme^i of the Council — I do not think 
that it is really necessary for me to say anything after what has been 



21 

aaid. I have been well acquainted with the jieople of this city for a 
long series of years; and I do not think that anything in the shape of 
armed resistance can have any existence among the people. I would be 
very apt to know of it; and I don't know of any. In fact, I haven't 
heard of much excitement except in the newsjiapers. I have heard 
of a great deal of news having been telegra|)hed east to the leaders 
■ot this nation, but I have really not put myself to any trouble to find 
out what it was. I have learned more of its effects here than any- 
where else. For instance, there is a little item — a battery of artillery, 
from Omaha, came here on Monday and a company of troojjs have 
been quartered in the city. 

By City Attorney Richards: Do you know of any disposi- 
tion on the part of the Mormon Church to provoke any conflict 
with the Goverment, or to encourage any armed resistance to the 
service of process, or any thing of that sort? 

A. I have heard and seen a good many of the Apostles 
lately, and some little time ago, the President of the Church, but the 
only counsel I have heard him or them give was not to create any 
trouble or violence whatever. 

O. Have you any information that leads you to believe that 
the lives and property of non-Mormons are insecure? 

A. I am in possession of no information that would lead me 
to believe anything of the kind. 

O. Do you know of anything, or of any state of facts that 
would justify you in the opinion that military interference, or any in- 
terference on the part of the general Government is necessary? 

A. No, sir. 

O. You know of nothing but that the city government is 
perfectly capable of preserving the peace and good order of the city? 

A. No, sir; nothing whatever. 

By City Attorney Richards: Mr. Mayor, I understand that 
Mr. Thomas Curtis is present; i:)erhaps he will make a statement. 



STATEMENT OF THOMAS CURTIS. 



By the Mayor: Mr. Curtis, are you a relative of the lady 
who lives at Mr. Varians? 

A. Yes, sir; I am her brother. 

O. You are reported to the city authorities as being the 
individual who, on the evening that the shooting of McMurrin oc- 
curred, was in the crowd that was gathered at the City Hall, and 
saw a rope in the possession of some one, and heard threats 
made of lynching Collin. Is this correct? 

A. No, sir, it is not correct. I was not up town last Satur- 
day night at all. 



22 



O. When did you first hear of the shooting? 

A. On Sunday morning, about eight o'clock. I was not up 

here at all on Saturday night. 

O. Did you tell your sister anything of the kind? 

A. No, sir. 



STATEMENT OF APOSTLE HEBER J. GRANT. 



Mr. Mayor — Having traveled extensively throughout the 
Territory of late years, I can state that I know of no such or- 
ganizations from one end of the Territory to the other as those in 
question. Within the past two years, I have been through our 
settlements in Idaho, New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado; 
and in no place among the Latter-day Saints have I any knowledge 
of any bodies of armed men, or any men drilling, or have I any 
knowledge of where there are half a dozen guns together in any 
place. So far as counsel or advice is concerned, there has never 
been any given to the people for them to arm themselves; but, on 
the contrary, to my knowledge, the people have been advised and 
counselled to submit to these things, and not to resist the officers. 
If a man cannot get out of the road of persecution, and the Marshal 
attempts to serve a subpoena upon him, the counsel and instruction 
of the Quorum of the Twelve is not to resist the officer; and that 
counsel has not only been given by the Twelve Apostles, but by the 
First Presidency also. Something has been made out of a sermon 
that I preached in the large Tabernacle, and it was said that I had 
been advising rebellion. I stated that if a man holding an official 
position steps aside from his official capacity to personally insult 
another, the insulted man is not showing any contempt for an 
officer of the court by maintaining his rights. But I will here say I was 
called in question for saying this, and advised by the First Presi- 
dency not to preach such things as they would be misconstrued to 
mean something entirely different. 

By City Attorney Richards: Do you know whether it is the 
disposition of the Mormon people to interfere with the rights of 
anyone? 

A. I know it is their disposition not to interfere. 

O. Have you any reason to believe that the rights and 
liberties of the non-Mormon people are any less secure than those 
of the Mormons? 

A. No, sir; they are equally secure. 



Apostle Franklin D. Richards said: I wish to approve most 
cordially of the measures the city authorities are taking to ascertain 



/ 23 

the facts in relation to these rumors. The general Government was 
once led to make a sad mistake through an infamous imjiutatiGn 
against the people of this Territory, that they had destroyed 
the records of the District Court of Utah. I presume it will 
be remembered by some. It was" on this account that a portion 
of the United States army was quartered here; but, when Governor 
Gumming came and took his place as Governor, it was found that 
the records were all safe, and they were all handed over to the proper 
authorities. Now, inasmuch as the Government has been led once to 
make a mistake of that kind, it is the duty of the jjeople to make a 
prompt manifestation and let the truth be presented to the Govern- 
ment, that they may not be led into Jiiaking another mistake of the 
same character. 

Councilor Grant here suggested that, as there were representa- 
tives of the daily newspapers of the city present, who were more familiar 
perhaps with the current news than others, that they each be re- 
quested to state it they know of any foundation in fact for the ru- 
mors now being investigated. 

Being called upon by the Mayor, the representative of the 
News, Mr Anderson, stated: "I know of nothing at all; I have 
heard of these things as rumors, but like the members of the council 
believe there is nothing in them." 

Mr. Hart, of the Tribune, said: "I have heard of these ru- 
mors as I have been passing around the street. I simply passed them 
by as idle street rumors and placed no credit upon them. Some of the 
rumors, I must confess, I never heard before to-day. The others I 
heard as idle street rumors that are Hkely to float around at any time." 

Mr. Whitney, of the Herald, said: "I do not think I have 
anything to say that will assist the council to fmd out anything fur- 
ther. Like Mr Hart, I have heard these things as rumors; some of 
them I have heard here to-day for the first time." 

On motion of Councilor Clark, the Mayor was authorized to 
extend an invitation, through the newspapers of the city, to the gen- 
eral public to attend the investigation at lo o'clock of the 8th, inst. 

Marshal Phillips stated that he had just received a telephone 
message from Mr. W. M. Van Horn, who was unable to attend the 
investigation, but who reitterated that he had never seen any num- 
ber of armed men riding on West Temple Street, and that he had 
never made any statement to that effect. 

On motion of Councilor Grant, the special session adjournca 
to Tuesday, December 8th, at lo o'clock a. m. 



24 

City Hall, Salt Lake City, 

Tuesday, December 8th, 1885. 
City Council met i>ursuant to adjournment in special session,. 
at lo a. m., Mayor Sharp presiding. 

Roll called. All present^ except Councilors Davis and Jen- 
nings. 

The Mayor reported that in pursuance of authority of the 
Council, he had published in all the daily newspapers of the city the 
following notice: 

To the Inhabitants of Salt Lake City: 

At a special meeting of the City Council of this city, held 
Saturday, December 5th, 1S85, it was decided that an official inves- 
tigation of the many rumors in circulation at the present time affect- 
ing the peace and weltare of the city and its inhabitants be had, 
commencing Monday, December 7th, at 10 a. m. Invitations were 
immediately issued to all persons who, there was reason to sup- 
pose, had any knowledge concerning the rumors mentioned, to at- 
tend said investigation and furnish the Councilwith any information 
in reference thereto they might possess. In response to these invita- 
tions, a number of persons appeared, and their testimony was taken 
and duly considered. 

For the purpose of giving the investigation the broadest pos- 
sible scope, a respectful invitation is now extended to every inhabi- 
tant of the city and to all whom it may concern, to be present at said 
investigation at the City Hall, on Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock 
and to furnish to the Council any and all information which they 
may be in possession of relative to the rumors aforesaid, their origin 
or spread, or to any other matter pertaining to the public tianquilit)^ 

James Sharp, Mayor. 

On motion of Alderman Pyper, the Mayor's action was ap- 
proved. 

Hon. Wm. Jennings being present, in response to invitation, 
stated as follows : 

STATEMENT OF HON. WM. JENNINGS. 



Mr. ayor and Gentlemen: I know nothing except what I 
have seen in the newspapers. I heard of these men coming into town 
on horse back, and that arms and ammunition were stored at the Tith- 
ing Office for use in case of an uprising. I have seen quite a num- 
ber of people from the settlements, and I have talked with them; but 



25 

they all say there is nothing in these reports, so lar as they kninv. 1 
have been through the Tithing Office from lime to time but never saw 
any ammunition or arms there except a few old muskets, vvliich I saw 
there last week. I saw some old llint-lock muskets tliere, witli- 
out ramrods; they looked like a lot of old broken remnants. I think 
perhaps there were twenty-five or thirty. I heard none of the citizens 
express themselves that they wanted to get into a fight. I was 
down town on Saturday at the time McMurrin was shot; when he was 
brought to the Hall here, just after the sliooting, there was quite a 
crowd, but everything was quiet, and I heard of no boast what they 
were going to do. I own a great deal of property, and in case of 
a riot my property would be in danger. Still, at the same time, I do 
not think there is any danger at all. Everything is very quiet. 

By Councilor Stringfellow: In your opinion do you think 
there is any appearance of anything that tends to an uprising? 

A. No, sir, I don't. 

Q. Do you think there has been any provocation that would 
justify military interference? 

A. No, sir, I do not. I look upon it in this way, that when 
two men get into a little spat, even so far as to shoot each other, I do 
not think that has anything to do with the whole community. Some- 
times it leads to trouble, but there is always enough good order in 
the City to keep such things down. 

By City Attorney Richards: Have you any information 
that would lead you to believe that the property or lives of non-Mor- 
mons are insecure, or that military interference is necessary to their 
protection? 

A. No, sir, I do not think so. 

O. Do you think the non-Mormons of this city have any 
occasion for feelings of insecurity? 

A. No, sir, I don't think they have. 

Q. You think then that no such necessitv exists? 

A. I do. 

O. Do you know of any instructions having been given by 
the Mormon people to effect organizations for military purposes? 

A. I do not. The Mormons desire peace and quietness. 

Q. Are you aware of the existence of any such organizations? 

A. No, sir. My i:)ast experience teaches me that the peojjle 
of this city are easily controlled. 

Q. You think then these rumors are without foundation? 

A. Yes, sir. 



Councilor Grant moved that a committee of six be appointed, 
with the Mayor and City Attorney and Treasurer associated, to draft 
resolutions enbodying the fintlings of this investigation, and report 
as soon as ])ossible. Carried. 



26 

The Mayor appointed Aldemian Dean, Councilors Grant, 
Wells, Webber, Stringfellow and Clark, as said committtee. 

The minutes were read and approved. 

On motion of Councilor Pettit, the Council adjourned to the 
regular session at seven o'clock, p. m. 



City Hall Salt Lake City, 

Tuesday, Dec 8th 1885. 

The City Council convened in regular session, pursuant to ad- 
journment, Mayor Sharp presiding. 

Roll called. All present except Councilors Davis and 
Jennings. 

REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE. 



Salt Lake City, Dec. 8th 1885. 

Ihe Hon. the Mayor and City Council: 

Gentlemen — Your special committee to whom was referred the 
matter of drafting a preamble and resolutions embodying the result 
of the investigation by the Council into the rumors that have been 
circulated throughout the country, detrimental to the peace and 
welfare of the City and its inhabitants, beg leave to report the accom- 
panying resolutions and recommend their adoption. 
Very Respectfully, 

Joseph H. Dean. 

H. J. Grant. 

T. G. Webber. 

John Clark. 

George Stringfellow, 

Junius F. Wells. 

James Sharp, Mayor. 

F. S. Richards, City Attorney. 

Orson F. Whitney, City Treasurer. 
Special Committee. 

On motion of Alderman Pyper, the report was approved. 
The resolutions were read as follows: 



27 

RESOLUTIONS 

In relation to Current Rumors respecthig the Peace, Reputation and 
Welfare of Salt Lake City. 



Whereas: Certain rumors affecting the peace, reputation and 
welfare of Salt Lake City and its inhabitants are prevalent, and have 
been circulated abroad to the injury of the same, and 

Whereas: To the knowledge of the city officials there was no 
cause existing on which these evil reports could be justly based, and 

Whereas: Official notice appears to have been taken of said 
rumors by the general and millitary authorities of the nation, it be- 
came expedient that the Mayor and City Council of said city insti- 
tute a thorough investigation of the same, that the facts upon which 
they were founded, if any existed, might be made known, and 

Whereas: Such investigation has been held, at which federal 
officials of the Territory, millitary authorities of Fort Douglas and 
prominent residents and business men, and the citizens generally, 
were invited to be present to give such information as theyniight be 
in possession of respecting the peace and good order of said city, and 
the injurious rumors affecting the same, and 

Whereas: After diligent and searching inquiries and the taking 
of reliable testimony, such rumors as had taken definite form and as 
were reported to the city officials, were refuted. Among these 
were the following, namely: 

A body of armed men is said to have been seen riding into the 
city along West Temple Street before daylight on Monday morning, 
November 30th. This rumor was traced back by the City Marshal 
from the person who first gave the information to the Mayor, to one 
Mr. Van Horn, of the Continental Hotel, the only one who was re- 
ported to have seen the armed men, and he denies any knowledge 
whatever of the matter. 

The rumor that armed men lined the road to the Penitentiary for 
the supposed purpose of taking Henry Collin from the custody of the 
United States officers, came to the City Marshal irom United States 
Marshal Ireland, who admitted, however, that on going over the 
road he had seen nothing himself to justify the report, and could not 
name anyone who had. The City Marshal then rode out to the 
penitentiary, traversing both routes, making diligent inquiries of res- 
idents along the way, but could not learn that any armed men had 
been seen anywhere in the vicinity. 

The rumor of threats made to lynch Collin after the shoot- 
ing of McMurrin, on Saturday night, November 28th was refuted by 
City Marshal Phillips, who testified that he had heard no such 
threats on the night in question, and that the crowd at the City Hall 
did not exceed two hundred people and was quiet and orderly. The 



28 

assertion of Assistant District Attorney Varian to the City Marshal, 
that a rope had been seen in the crowd by one Thomas Curtis, was 
refuted by Curtis himself, who denied being- at or near the City Hall 
at anytime on Saturday, and heard nothing of the shooting- until 
Sunday morning. 

The rumor that quantities of arms and ammunition were 
secreted in the general Tithing Store was ascertained to be false 
by a personal visit to the premises by General McCook and his ad- 
jutant, Mayor Sharp and City Attorney Richards. The General 
expressed himself as perfectly satisfied that the rumor was without 
foundation. 

The report that the Mormons were arming themselves, and 
organizing for an outbreak under the direction of their leaders, and 
that in the outer settlements they had been ordered to be ready at a 
moment's notice to march to Salt Lake City, was met by the testi- 
mony of Apostles Lorenzo Snow, Franklin D. Richards, John Henry 
Smith, HeberJ. Grant and John W. Taylor, each of whom declared 
that from their personal knowledge the rumors were utterly untrue. 
Honorable John Sharp, William Jennings, and other prominent 
citizens testified to the same effect, and that such a condition of af- 
fairs as had been reported could not exi^t among the people without 
their knowledge. 

Othe.r rumors of insecurity to life and property were refuted, 
and others still were of so vague a character that it was impossible to 
trace them to any definite source, or give them tangible form. There- 
fore, 

Be it Resolved by the Mayor and City Coiincil of Salt Lake 
City, that the reports or rumors of any condition of affairs other 
than of the most peaceful character prevailing at the present time in 
this city, are false. 

That at no time in the history of this city have the lives and 
property of its non-Mormon inhabitants been more secure than now. 

That the reports to the contrary have been accredited and 
circulated by federal officials of this Territory for some purpose best 
known to themselves. 

That to the extent they or any others have circulated these false 
reports abroad, they have defamed the city and injured its people. 



On motion of Alderman Waddell the resolutions were unani- 
mously adopted. 

On motion of Alderman Waddell the Council adjourned. 

JAMES SHARP, Mayor. 
Attest: 

Heber M. Wells, 

Recorder. 



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